The Henson Journals
Sun 25 March 1917
Volume 21, Pages 4 to 5
[4]
Passion Sunday, March 25th, 1917.
965th day
Ella and I went to the Holy Communion in the Abbey. Carnegie celebrated. Then we (i.e. Ella, Miss Pearce, & Canon Charles) went to the "City Temple" for the fell purpose of kicking down one old rotten convention which blocks the way of Christian fellowship. There was a vast congregation which filled the building from floor to topmost gallery. The Service, which was semi–liturgical, was conducted by Principal Garvie of Hampstead. It was devotional & even dignified. Even the extemporaneous prayer was inoffensive. Then came the sermon. It took 45 minutes in delivery. In the afternoon I went to S. Margaret's, & baptized Miranda Catherine Tallents, Bridget's daughter, & then went back to Little Cloisters, and lay perdu until it was time to go forth again to the "City Temple". The building was again crowded to its utmost capacity. Dr Shakespeare, the President of the Free Church Council, conducted the service. I preached for 35 minutes. Kitty Inge, Linetta, & Clarence Stock were present, & expressed themselves with their wonted enthusiasm. Thus was concluded a memorable day, which must needs have consequences, but whether for good, or for ill, God only knows. I had an amused consciousness of triumphant paradox in wearing the "Aaronical vestments" in the midst of the "Brownists"! It was, I think on reflection, the right thing to do in the interest of my purpose.
[5]
Shakespeare told me that he conceived the idea of attempting to unify the Nonconformists at Portsmouth, when he heard my address to the Congregational Union there. That address was subsequently published. I remember that I was much disappointed at the time because it seemed to have failed of any result: but I may have been mistaken.
Mrs R. J. Campbell came into the vestry after the morning sermon, and spoke to me. She had come up from Birmingham, perhaps expecting that some reference wd be made to her husband. But I eschewed him altogether, and made no allusion to his successor, who yet lingers on the other side of the Atlantic torpedo–bound.